Citizens for Community Values, the conservative Cincinnati group thatlobbiedheavily for passage ofHouse Bill 376, the Ohio Religious Freedom Restoration Act, blames"mob mentality" for thedecision by thesponsors to shelve the legislation.

"We were quite disappointed that a bill that would have merely reiterated Ohioans' First Amendment rights - the freedom to practice one's sincerely held religious beliefs without threat of undue punishment by the state or other citizens - was needlessly withdrawn," thegroup said in a statement released today.

The group blamed "same-sex marriage bullies" forpressuring lawmakers and said they "betray their true intentions" by aggressively attempting tocurb religious freedom.

"Was Bill Clinton anti-gay when he signed the bill? How about Ted Kennedy, Diane Feinstein, John Kerry, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid or any of the other 97 senators and 425 Representatives who almost unanimously voted to pass the federal RFRA to protect basic First Amendment rights of religious freedom of individuals," CCV said.

There was jubilation on the other side of the issue asFreedomOhio, the group that pressuredlawmakersto pull the bill, announcedit will celebrate the victory over HB 376 at a Friday fund-raising benefit headlined by drag queen Nina Westat Axis, 775 N. High St. Proceeds will benefit the group's efforts to overturn the 2004 state constitutional ban on same-sex marriage.